For what it is, St. Ides is the best out there. The average beer is 5% alcohol by volume. The average malt liqour is 8%alcohol by volume. St. Ides goes above and beyond and gives us 8.2%by volume. A 40oz. bottle, the volume equivalent of 3-1/3 12oz. beers, contains the same alcohol as roughly a six pack of standard beer at a fraction of the cost. I'm a big believer.